Simple DC Block question

[jmo]

I'm in the process of constructing a control panel for a small N scale shelf layout. For a number of reasons, have chosen to go w/ DC rather than DCC. Question: if I wired for a "common rail" configuration, could I use SPST toggles on the control panel to activate the individual block selections? (Would like to use an illuminated switch to indicate power/on to a block -- such switches seem available only in SPST.) Any other suggestions to simply wire to indicate block activation would also be welcome. Thanks.

[CSX Robert]

Yes.

[Texas Zepher]

jmo

I'm in the process of constructing a control panel for a layout.  have chosen to go w/ DC. Question: if I wired for a "common rail" configuration, could I use SPST toggles on the control panel to activate the individual block selections? (Would like to use an illuminated switch to indicate power/on to a block -- such switches seem available only in SPST.) Any other suggestions to simply wire to indicate block activation would also be welcome.

Ummm, Are the toggles to simply turn power on and off to track segments, or are they used to select wich controller is going to run the train on that track?
  

If the former - yes.  Simple on and off will work to let a train sit dead on a track.  But unless the switch has a 2nd power feed I believe they will only be on/glowing if there is a locomotive in that section of track.

If the later you have to have SPDT switches for two "cabs" SPTT for three "cabs", SP4T for four "cabs" etc.

[Seamonster]

Illuminated switches usually take the power for the light from the electrical circuit it is controlling. That would mean the power for the light would be your track power. So, when the throttle is turned down low, you wouldn't see much if any light if it were a 12 volt bulb. If it were a 6 volt bulb, it would burn out first time you used it. There are some illuminated switches that have a separate circuit for the light. But those would require a double pole switch, one pole to switch the track power and one to switch the lamp power which would have to come from a separate source, like a wall wart.

As was pointed out in another post, SPST switches will only switch power on and off to a block. Okay for a single operator and a single locomotive. Perhaps that's all you need for a small shelf layout.

One point to keep in mind. Don't supply your common rail with just one wire and depend on the rail joiners to carry the current all over the layout. Wherever you put a feeder to the switched rail, also put in a feeder to the common rail. Join them all together and bring that wire back to the throttle.

What I would do is use double pole switches and wire the second pole to supply power to an LED placed next to the switch. Use a resistor between the switch and the LED. Anything between 680 ohms and 1,000 ohms for a 12 volt supply will work. 1/4 watt resistors are fine. Use a 12 volt D.C. wall wart for the LED power. If you've made a control panel with a track diagram on it, you can just drill a hole for the LED and glue it in. If you want to get fancy, you can get LEDs in a nice looking holder that mounts with a nut from the back. Some of these even come with the resistor built in for use with 12 volts.